The publisher news medium, Reportera, Mr. Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim has gone into hiding following a petition by the former Lagos State Governor and Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN against Reportera and its publisher/owner over an alleged defamatory and injurious publication that the former Governor was writing judgement for the Justices of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Mr. Nnamdi Ibezim with the twitter handle @iruefiNG is the owner of Reportera media outfit, which doubles as a megaphone for Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and his Obidient movement.
Mr. Nnamdi Ibezim tweeted on Saturday that operatives of the DSS came to his house two days ago (Thursday) but could not find him and then arrested his brother Mr. Chike Victor Ibezim who is also believed to be one of the Editors of the fake news platform.
In the series of tweets he accepted that his media company did publish a news report targeting Mr. Fashola but that it was ‘merely reporting what was already in the media and even called it a rumour’.
“I’d like to inform Nigerians that my brother Chike Victor Ibezim was abducted by men of the DSS 2 days ago following a “defamaton” & “cyber-stalking” petition written against my media company @ReporteraNews by Babatunde Fashola based on the News report we published (Attached).
“For the first 24 hours, we didn’t know his whereabouts, we were aware he was taken by law enforcement because they came in search of me but met my absence but we didn’t know which and where he was taken to, not until yesterday evening.
“While this is not the time to talk about the article for which reason Reportera was petitioned, I’d like to categorically make it clear that we didn’t make a false allegation against the former minister, we only reported what was already in the media and even called it a rumour.
“I call on all well-meaning Nigerians who know that the Rule of Law must be upheld in a 21st century democracy to join voices with me and my family to call for the immediate release of my brother followed with a proper & procedural investigation into this case to ascertain guilt.
“Again, let me reiterate that I haven’t received an invitation from the DSS and even when their men came in contact with my family, they didn’t give any reasons for their visit or drop any details regarding his abduction neither was any instruction received to report anywhere.
“Hence I don’t even know what my next move should be. On this note, I’d like to tell Nigerians that I am worried about my safety. I have a very young family who depend on me and I cannot afford to be illegally kept away from them for even a second”, Mr. Nnamdi Ibezim added.
Mr. Nnamdi Ibezim in a separate tweet many hours later continued his attempt to rally round his fellow Obidients to come to his aid and prevail on the DSS to release his brother. In addition, he doubled down in defence of Reportera’s malicious publication against Mr. Babatunde Fashola stating that Mr. Jackson Ude, one of the individuals Mr. Fashola included in his petition, was the originator of the ‘rumour’ and that Reportera only reported the rumour and should not be targeted
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